Europe 2007: Peugeot 207 edges VW Golf out

The European models ranking reaches the height of its competitiveness in 2007 with 6 models holding the pole position at one stage this year.

The Peugeot 207, for its first full year of sales, manages to become Europe’s best seller with 437,505 sales, up 105%. At the start of the year, its best European position was #4 (October 2006). It reaches #2 in February and takes the lead for the first time in April, staying there for 4 consecutive months, a feat no other car had achieved since the Golf in 2004.

VW Golf

After a very weak first half (it was #7 in January, February and March!), The VW Golf fares much better in the 2nd half and misses the overall top spot by only 2,500 sales to rank #2 in 2007 with 435,055 units. It held the top spot 4 times: in August and from October to December.

The Ford Focus stays extremely strong this year with sales down only 3% at 406,557 and still in 3rd place. It is #1 in March. The Opel Corsa, completely relaunched in late 2006, starts the year with a huge bang and ranks #1 in January! It is the very first time it reaches this spot in Europe in the 25-year life of the nameplate! The Corsa is even #1 over the first Quarter and finishes the year 4th, again a personal best, with 402,173 sales up 42%.

Opel Corsa

This is just 129 sales above its big sister the Opel Astra, #1 in 2006 but #5 in 2007 with sales down 8%, however managing to hold the top spot in September. The Fiat Punto was #1 in February, taking advantage of a very strong Italian market, but drops to #7 over the full year at 377,989 sales (-6%).